Route: leaving the car on the top road in Troutbeck and running north to find Nanny Lane, the walled track ascending onto the fellside. Running up this slowly until it levels and then on in much drier conditions than previously experienced. Ignoring the left turn to Wansfell Pike and staying on the road to a bend and stream where the path has been re-engineered using alluvial material. Towards the end of the track, climbing a stile to the left to find a clear grassy path, today not very marshy, initially close to the track but later diverging left and becoming steeper to reach the small cairn of the summit. Then on an undulating path, dry today, along the summit to reach Wansell Pike. Then descending to the observatory and an initially rising woodland short cut to find Robin Lane, the main track looping round the bottom of the fell to Troutbeck.Conditions: a sunny day.
Pub: joined by Lois, the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley, for Hawkshead Session IPA, WPA and lunch.
